8 replies to this topic

[Oinkage]

The biggest issue with ECM is that it has become an arms race. The side with the most ECM wins. The easiest way to fix this is to limit the number of ECM mechs on each side. You can't get rid of ECM, but you can limit the number of mechs that have it on each side. The standard approach to this problem is to try and limit the number of mechs in each weight class, such as 2 assault, 2 heavy, 2 medium, and 2 light. This just limits the number of ECM mechs to 6. Not much of an improvement. If you added in a max weight, you would not do much better. 2 Atlas DDC, 2 Cicada 3M, 2 Raven 3L, and 2 Catapult K2 (AC20) only weigh a combined 480 tons for a 6 ECM mechs with 2 hard hitting mechs to back them up. These solutions do not work alone.

What will work is changing the way in which a match is started. I propose that you use a tried and true model. The same model used by League of Legends. Force players to select their mechs as part of the grouping process before a match starts and limit the mechs availability by variant AND weight class/ECM availability. This will limit the ECM mechs from 1 to 4 on each side depending on if you make ECM a unique choice. This way you could allow only 1 of each variant which would cap ECM mechs at 4 per side, or you could also limit ECM chassis to 1 per side. First come, first served. If someone picks an ECM mech before you, you don't get to run that. Only 1 of each chassis variant. No more 4 streak cats. No more 4 gauss cats. No more tears. Add the weight limit and/or class limit on top of this, and you have a balanced solution to match making.

Furthermore, you could add a draft mode like League of Legends does so that each side can pick a certain number of chassis that are not available to the other side. This would be a good way of limiting the heavy stacking of specific mechs as well.

I hope this helps in the development of match making.

[Hann Solo]

This. So this. Let's do it.

[Firewuff]

and If I only one one mech with ECM and someone else chooses an ECM mech I get kicked? or worse, forced to use a trial mech? not workable.

[Oinkage]

Get more mechs in your garage. Why would you only have 1 mech in your garage?

You don't get kicked. You choose a different mech!

[Slater01]

Oinkage this is the best idea yet for ECM - limiting it.
As for matchmaking that will require some new programming code, so the LL idea will have to fit within whatever PGI has in mind (which may be very similar). But I do like your match making suggestion, better than the weight cap, or a class cap. And it can be tailored to match the era and house/clan.

[Davers]

Oinkage, on 04 January 2013 - 11:44 AM, said:

Get more mechs in your garage. Why would you only have 1 mech in your garage?

You don't get kicked. You choose a different mech!

Maybe because you are a new player and just saved up your Cbills and bought a mech with ECM? Not every player has a garage filled with mechs and 50 million Cbucks in the bank.

[Th3 James]

Why don't they just match them up instead of making people choose a different mech?

[King Arthur IV]

match making is terrible right now. just came out of a game so uneven.

main details i found to be disturbing.
enemy team: 2 atlas 1 stalker full team
my team: 1 assault (awesome) 1 heavy cat and one down when game started.

there is no way we can match firepower or armor not to mention 7v8 not a dc just noone placed in match.

[DeadlyNerd]

How about they just match up the teams so that every team has the same number of ECMs.
That way the douchebags that bring 8 ECM mechs wont ever get a match and those that actually consider other group setups will get a fair match.